No matter how well you work, you will receive negative feedback some time in your career. Read on for tips on how to handle criticism at work and impress your boss at the same time.
Don’t take it personally
If you click away from this page with only one takeaway, it’s this one. Please don’t take any criticism personally. It’s not always easy, but work on removing yourself from any negative feedback. Just because you have an area for development doesn’t mean that you aren’t the funny, intelligent, good looking person you always have been. Your boss is giving you the courtesy of making you aware of something about the way you work that you can improve on to make you even more awesome than you already are.
If your boss is making it personal, then that’s a whole different ball game. Know your limits and your willingness to put up with your boss. Don’t be afraid to speak up (to your boss or HR) or walk away.
Don’t try to be right
Don’t fight too hard to defend yourself in the face of some feedback. It will annoy your boss and it’ll lengthens the feedback process. Take the “agree to disagree” position and let your boss get their point across and determine within yourself how you’ll take on the feedback.
Do ask for a game plan
Your boss wants you to work better in one aspect of your role, but do they offer advice on how to actually change this? If they don’t, speak up! Put the ball in their court, ask for their suggestions and you’ll win points from your boss at the same time.
Do learn from it
Reflect on what your boss had to say and decide how you’ll change your workplace practice. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be much; a minor tweak to a methodology you already use.
Do move on from it
Once the situation is in the past, leave it there. Don’t dwell on it. Don’t keep harping on about it to your boss.
Criticism isn’t nice, but you can make it work for you
Unless you’re made of steel, criticism is going to sting. As you move through your career, though, you DO get better at hearing it.
I really hope that if you’re ever on the receiving end of some less-than-positive feedback from your boss, that your boss is respectful of you as a professional about it. You don’t deserve to be treated like sh*t because there’s some room to move in your performance.
Good advice. I was such a moody cow at work and did not take criticism well. The not taking things personally is critical. When I struggled with workloads I found going to the boss and asking him to tell me to prioritise my projects was always the best way to get things done. If you try to hide the fact that you’re struggling under the load and don’t get anything done, the boss will just get cranky and wonder why you just didn’t ask for help. V. (ex admin assistant extraordinaire! hahaha)
ha, that used to be me too! Love having bosses who you can go to for advice on prioritisation :)
Thank you for this article. I along with others like me know the feeling of getting touche at criticism, especially when under stress, but never meant to be arrogant. This list of advice also goes along with everything in life where criticism can happen, not just in a job.
Thank you Tina! Thrilled that you liked it
In the past, leave it there. I like that. Sometimes not as easy as it sounds!
You’re SO right, Grace! I live in hope that I get better at it… maybe this year….!
Thanks for commenting!
This is what i need. I’m having a problems with my co workers at the office. They always criticize my work because i strictly follow the company policy. By the way I’m a manager and my people complain about being so perfectionist. not knowing that what i did is also for their benefits. Thanks for the encouragement.